Hearing in works to discuss ‘sanctuary city’ status

Petition drive urges help for immigrants

A petition drive urging Pittsburgh to adopt a formal “sanctuary city” status will spur a City Council hearing about the idea, probably within the next several weeks.

Recent petitions circulated by the Pittsburgh Sanctuary City Coalition show about 60 signatures — signatures of only 25 city residents who are eligible to vote are needed to trigger a public hearing under city rules. The text urges legislation to ban city agencies from collaborating with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement and from disclosing “information about the immigration status of any person.”

As with similar policies in Philadelphia, San Francisco and Chicago, the petition says, the idea here is “to help all immigrants and all vulnerable communities feel welcome and safe in Pittsburgh.” Activist Greg Godels said established city policies to assist immigrants are helpful but not enough.

“We think it’s time to push a step further and really try to make Pittsburgh a leader in terms of offering immigrants a welcome — a real welcome, not just a handshake,” said Mr. Godels, 70, of North Point Breeze, who helped with the petition drive.

The group sees a national struggle over “sanctuary city” policies, and wants city and county leaders to turn rhetoric against President Donald Trump into tangible policy, Mr. Godels said.

Definitions can vary for “sanctuary cities,” but the term often refers to municipalities that don’t cooperate in full with ICE, according to the Marshall Project nonprofit in New York. Legal observers have reported what appears to be dramatically tougher immigration

and refugee rights,” Mr. Gilman said. “But since the world is changing, I’m always open to listening to the community about needed changes.”

The discussion comes as “sanctuary cities” fall under intensifying scrutiny from lawmakers and Mr. Trump. His administration has threatened to diminish federal grants for cities that ban certain communication with ICE.

In Pennsylvania, the state Senate in February passed a bill that would keep local governments from setting rules that contradict federal immigration policy. Similar legislation has materialized in the House.

“Refusing to honor federal detainer requests for dangerous criminals already in police custody increases the likelihood of those dangerous criminals returning to our communities, putting the public at greater risk,” Sen. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Jefferson Hills, said in an earlier statement. He sponsored the Senate bill.

Also Tuesday, Mr. Gilman said he will introduce council legislation to amend the weekend hours when construction is allowed in the city. His bill would move the start time from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m., allowing residents “an extra hour of peace.”

He said the proposal follows an increase in noise complaints amid a construction boom.